Circular weight loss.

"Will It Go Round in Circles" is a song written by Bruce Fisher and Billy Preston, and recorded by Preston for his 1972 album Music Is My Life. On its release as a single in 1973, the song was a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and sold over a million copies.

It has almost been a year since I last posted to this blog. Injuries and illness have plagued me since I turned 50 (December of 2010). Accompanying the illness and injuries has been a circle of weight loss and gain. The latest illness was pneumonia. This nasty bout of sickness left me very week and unable to participate in physical exercise for two months.

I am currently 187 pounds. I will be spending two weeks with the person who is responsible for my ship slowing rising off the bottom of the lake (see my July 19, 2010 post). I hope to be 185 lbs before I leave and return weighing 180 pounds or less.

What I learned on this journey is that Preston is one of several people sometimes referred to by outsiders as a "Fifth Beatle." At one point John Lennon even proposed the idea of having him as the "Fifth Beatle" (to which Paul countered that it was bad enough with four).

Close to You

"(They Long to Be) Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. It was not until seven years later when this song finally spouted and grew. In 1970, it was released by Karen and Richard Carpenter as, (They Long to Be) Close to You. It became their breakthrough hit. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

We never know when a seed that we have planted will spring to life. Today I had coffee with one of my former (and first) students. I first met Rachael at 14. She was a freshman in high school. When she was a junior, I selected her to be the captain of our school’s volleyball team. Her senior year, my son chose her to be the assistant coach of the school’s soccer team.

Today, at 19, she started college. We agreed to meet for coffee. As we talked, I saw the first green shoots of her life coming out of the grounded state she has lived since High School graduation. Her dream is to become a forensic biologist. I believe she will.

Rachael represents the reason why I teach. I believe in and love dearly every one of my students.

Two other little known facts: First, “(They Long to Be) Close to You” is Homer and Marge's love song on The Simpsons. Second, Rachael is the only student I have given a math final that “Aced” the entire first page and then missed every question on the second page. Duh! (Thank-you Homer Simpson)

Bunco

In 1961, a bit before my 1st birthday Ray Charles sung a Percy Mayfield penned song that hit number one for two weeks. "Hit the Road Jack" was also number one on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks. The song spoke about the break up of a relationship over (the lack of) money. Relationships that are formed around money are destroyed over money. But if they are formed over shared experiences like the ones I am looking towards… even if the money is gone, the relationship can stand.

This portion is patterned after James T. Kirk who would say “Captain’s log supplemental”. SFBG’s blog supplemental - I have been hearing conversation regarding a game called Bunco (Bunko). Even a popular Christian radio station mentioned that their staff would be going to a Bunco game.

http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-Play-Bunco-245251462

Seems to be very popular among Christian women although some men do play. Sounds like a great reason to socialize and build shared experiences. I think it is worth investigating. This may prove to be another kick in my swim to the surface.

Hmmm, were those wine glasses in the video? (smile)